CAPTAIN'S NOTES

Hey everyone,

We have another massive game on Saturday with the visit of Reading. Obviously, I'm frustrated to be out - no footballer likes injuries! - and I've been disappointed to miss so many crucial games, but I'll be doing my best for the team in another role: being the best supporter for my teammates!

People will tell you I'm not the best watcher of games - I kick every ball! - but I will always do the best I can for the team, even if I'm not on the pitch. I have so much confidence in the squad and with the way we've been playing over the last few months, with such a great squad and so much depth, I'm confident we can win our remaining games.

I watched the Champions League game in midweek with Gemma Bonner and Megan Campbell. It's only natural to be disappointed, especially when you're used to winning, and we know we didn't perform as well as we could have - but that's football.

When you're a top team like we are, you have to make sure you use all of that energy and frustration to take into the next game, whilst remembering who we are and the good things we've been doing over the course of the season, focusing on the positives.

It's important to move on quickly so the fact this game has come so soon after is perfect. The best reaction would be for us to put in the performance we know we're capable of. In any Manchester City team - female or male - you have to fight to the end and make sure that, no matter what, you play the way City play. With the players we have, we have a squad that's ready to go and we know how important this game is.

There are five league games left and it's still in our hands. We'll focus on one game at a time, as we always do, but we know that if we win them all, it's ours.

That's not saying it's going to be easy, especially against Reading! They've been a bit of a bogey team for us in recent seasons - tactically, they're very good and they can play various formations, so we'll have to be adaptable. When we played them away this year, we drew 1-1 but in fairness, we had plenty of chances to win that game and we should have put it to bed!

That may be in the back of the players' minds a little bit but although we always pay our opponents respect, we have to focus on what we can do - the quality we have, the way we play - and ensure everyone is firing from the goalkeeper to the strikers.

As a final note, I'd like to thank everyone for your lovely messages after my 200th City appearance. To have played 200 games for this Club is a huge privilege and the fact I've been here from the start makes it even more special. I feel I've given absolutely everything - 110% - every single day to be the best professional and best captain I can be. Hopefully, there'll be a lot more to come!

Come on, City!

Steph Houghton

Q&A WITH → DEMI STOKES

The City and England full-back put pen to paper on a new two-year deal earlier this month, extending her contract to the summer of 2023.

We caught up with the defender to celebrate her news and look back on a fantastic career in sky blue...

Demi, congratulations on your new deal. What does it mean for you to be here for another two years?

I’m very happy to continue the journey!

I feel very grateful and very fortunate, especially given what’s happened over the last year and with people losing jobs. I don’t take it lightly.

If you look at the players we’ve brought in, to be a part of that and to help with that process to hopefully, achieve success is exciting.

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What were the key factors for you in extending your stay?

It was a no-brainer that I wanted to stay. I just said: if you look at the team and its depth, I want to be a part of that and push players who push me.

We’ve got that - and of course, I want to win with the girls as well. We’re up there competing and we want to win. It seems like home for me. It was an easy decision!

To be fair, it is something you think about. I’m not getting any younger so you have to start about thinking what you want too...

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You mentioned there you had to think about what you wanted... What is that? You've already achieved a lot during your City career so what's the aim for the next two years?

For me personally, it's to keep pushing, thriving. Although I am getting older, I want to keep pushing myself, stretching myself to become even better - even if it's a 1% difference - and I believe I can do that with the players around me.

In terms of silverware, we want to win the league and the Champions League.

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You also said the Club 'feels like home'... Do off-the-field factors, such as how you feel about the Club and the city, also play a role in your decision?

I think so. As an athlete, you have to be selfish and make the best decision for you.

I feel very settled and happy. It makes that decision easy. As a footballer, you have to make a selfish decisions, even if it means moving away if you have to... but for me, luckily that wasn’t the case.

If you can get everything off the field as well as on it - a good balance, such as being able to see family and friends, for example - that definitely helps.

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Your England career has gone hand-in-hand with your time at City. With the Olympics coming up this summer and the chance to be part of Great Britain's squad, how important is being at City to achieving success on the international stage?

It definitely helps. If you look at the recent camps, there are usually around 10 of us from City who go away to England duty and having those relationships on and off the field does help.

At the same time though, it's important I focus on myself and my own performance, doing the right things to give myself the best possible chance of getting picked.

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On the day you signed for City six years ago, you said it was a dream come true. How do you reflect on that journey now, looking back?

It's mad to think it's been six years! It's gone really fast. There was a picture on social media on the anniversary and I remember thinking: 'Wow! It seems like three weeks ago!' - in a good way!

It's good to see where I started and how the Club has evolved. There have been changes and you have to ride with it and embrace it. It helps you to improve and that's what I want. It's good to be part of.

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How do you think you’ve developed as a player in that period?

Massively! I always laugh when I look back at games. When I first started, I was just figuring out the left-back position and how to play there, figuring out what I was good at and not so good at.

I've improved my game loads in that respect. It's been really good for me. I've learned a lot and even now, I'm still learning.

It's good to look back. I've definitely improved and now, it's about being consistent.

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What would you say has been your City career highlight?

I'm going to say the first FA Cup Final win - against Birmingham.

The FA Cup is something every player wants to win and I'd lost a Final previously with Sunderland against Arsenal. At the time, we were buzzing that we'd only been beaten 2-1 and had managed to keep the score down! You can laugh about it now...

To have won it with City was special for me.

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You've made more than 150 appearances for the Club and during that time, we've been consistently challenging for honours. What challenges do players face when they're in a team like that for such a long period of time?

To not become content with what you've done - to keep pushing in the knowledge that if you don't perform, someone else can take your shirt.

You have to keep pushing yourself and performing because of the depth of the team. It's important for consistency but also to push the person beside you.

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Would you say this is the best City squad you've been involved with?

Definitely one of the best. If you look over the teams we've had over the years, there have been a lot of good players but in terms of depth, you can play any starting XI now and be confident you can win the game.

Anyone can start, anyone can play and we have a lot of diverse players, who can play in any position and do a good job. We have a good balance - England players, American players and a good mixture of experience and youth.

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How have you found the squad competition, especially with Alex Greenwood and Megan Campbell also able to play at left-back?

It's elevated me and as a player, is necessary. You have to use it as a positive. If you start thinking: 'What if I don't play?', you can put yourself in a hole, on the backfoot before you've given yourself a chance.

Knowing there is someone waiting in that position pushes you and it's about what you can learn from those players. Of course, Alex went to Lyon and played with world-class players and won the Champions League so for me, I focus on what I can learn that can help me and then help the team.

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Since you first joined, the FA WSL has also strengthened. Is it harder than ever to be successful?

Definitely. If you look at the year we won the title, it would be harder now to do that again. Teams bring an extra 10% against you so you have to play every game like it's your last, or a Final.

We want that. You don't want it to be a breeze. That's not beneficial for the international team either. If you're getting good games week in, week out, you're going to improve and it's more rewarding when you do win.

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What's Gareth Taylor like to work with? After working with Nick Cushing for so long, has it been beneficial to have had a change of coach at this stage in your career?

He's been good for the group. His attention to detail is very precise and we needed something different.

He is very different to Nick but it's about embracing the change and thinking: 'What can i learn from the new coach and add to my toolbox?'

It's been good. Change is good and it's been good for the team. A new set of eyes can bring different perspectives and opinions and by trying those new things, you can elevate your game.

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What demands does he place on your as a full-back?

Encouraging me to get on the ball and allowing me to express myself, which has been enjoyable. I can get up and down - my legs aren't gone yet! - but it's about being more than a conventional full-back.

I've been learning new systems, playing with different players. We have a lot of wingers, who are all different, so that's also part of player development - learning what's required in certain games and how it changes.

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It's been a positive first season with Gareth. What do you think this squad is capable of?

Anything we want! The talent we have and the depth is frightening! You've got Lucy Bronze and Alex from Lyon, who have the experience of winning the Champions League, plus the American girls who are World Cup winners... Players who have been there and done it.

Having that winning mindset makes you want it more. You get a taste of what it is to win - and what it takes to win - but then you go: 'Right, I've done that but I have another game next week' and switch the focus. You move onto the next thing you can win.

We have everything, and all of that experience and all of those qualities will help - but it's up to us to set the bar high and make sure we're demanding the best from each other.